By Amira El-FekkiShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberVenezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said he had a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump amid escalating tensions over U.S. sanctions and regional security, portraying the exchange as amicable.
"If that call means that steps are being taken toward a respectful dialogue from state to state, from country to country, welcome dialogue, welcome diplomacy. Because we will always seek peace!" Maduro said in Spanish.
While Trump confirmed that the two spoke, he did not give details of their discussion.
Why It Matters
The call comes as Trump has continued escalating military pressure on Venezuela with Caribbean boat strikes and airspace restrictions. Maduro, meanwhile, faces mounting pressure over his potential departure from office amid U.S. accusations of links to narcotrafficking networks, which he denies.
Venezuelan officials accuse the Trump administration of targeting the country's natural resources. Maduro has rallied supporters, framing the crisis as a fight for sovereignty amid economic hardship and international isolation.
...What To Know
Maduro said he believed "the path of the people of the United States and the people of Venezuela has to be a path of respect, diplomacy and dialogue," confirming that he received a call from the White House "about 10 days ago," Venezuelan state-run TV quoted him as saying on Wednesday during an event in Caracas.
Maduro told Trump he was willing to leave office if he and his family received full legal amnesty, including the lifting of U.S. sanctions and the closure of a high-profile case at the International Criminal Court, Reuters reported on Monday.
The U.S. has labeled the Cártel de los Soles (Cartel of the Suns) a foreign terrorist organization, alleging that Maduro leads the group and it includes senior members of his government.
Since September, the U.S. has carried out maritime strikes in Caribbean waters that have killed more than 80 people. Trump has also signaled that the Pentagon may begin conducting strikes on land.
What People are Saying
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said of the call on Wednesday: "I can say that the conversation was in a tone of respect. I can even say that it was cordial between the president of the United States and the president of Venezuela."
U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday: "I wouldn't say it went well or badly. It was a phone call."
What Happens Next
Trump said any country involved in producing drugs for illicit trafficking could be targeted by the U.S.
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